Davidelfín Autumn/Winter 2011 “Diogenes Syndrome”

The Diogenes syndrome, which can also be called senile squalor syndrome, was noted in 1966 as a disorder that is characterized by self-neglect, anti-social behavior, hoarding, and other such compulsions

The disorder derived its name from the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope (modern-day Turkey)—a Cynic and minimalist.

Diogenes was bold character, who never feared going against the grain or attacking corruption.

He finally moved to the big metropolis of Athens to defy the city-state system, advocating the return to the simplicity of nature.

His name has since resurfaced throughout the millennia in literature, art, and now fashion!

See the collection here.

Photos Copyright Davidelfin.

Davidelfín Spring/Summer 2011 “Tautology”

David Elfín entered the world of fashion through painting, which permeates every collection.

When the label was created in 2001 by Bimba Bosé; Deborah, Gorka, and Diego Postigo; and David Elfín, the team based it on the media of photography, architecture, and video as they seek to heighten the emotions of their audience.

For spring/summer 2011, Davidelfin has prepared a collection entitled “Tautology.”

The Free Online Dictionary defines ‘tautology’ as:

1.
a. Needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy.
b. An instance of such repetition.
2. Logic An empty or vacuous statement composed of simpler statements in a fashion that makes it logically true whether the simpler statements are factually true or false; for example, the statement Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not rain tomorrow.

Have a look at the collection here.

Photos Copyright Davidelfin.

Francis Montesinos—Still Pulling out the Surprises!

Francis Montesinos Gil was born 1950 in Valencia, Spain, and has worked in a wide spectrum of fields, including cinema, ballet, theater, graphic design, perfume, and fashion.

His works draw heavy on Spanish folklore and its Mediterranean roots as he reinterprets and personalizes them to suit modern society.

See the collection here.

Photo Copyright Getty Images, Used with Permission by Image.net.

Roberto Verino—the Picasso of Spanish Fashion

(Manuel) Roberto Verino was born 1945 in Verín, Ourense, Spain, and began showing his collections at Madrid’s Cibeles just two years after having studied Fine Arts and Business in Paris.

Now nearly 30 years later, Roberto has received awards like best designer of Spain and has launched a line of eyewear, as well as fragrances, watches, ceramics, and wines.

Simple and sophisticated, Roberto Verino designs are infused with romance and culture.

Noteworthy is Verino’s guiding principle in life—the words of Picasso: “Inspiration is very important but it should find you hard at work when it arrives.”

Check out the autumn/winter 2011 collection here.

Photos Copyright Getty Images, Used Image.net.

Devota & Lomba at Cibeles Madrid

Devota and Modesto Lomba are not new to the fashion scene but rather launched their career in 1986, going on to win numerous awards.

After the death of Luis Devota, Modesto carried the baton entering into men’s under garments and swimwear.

Devota and Lomba can be characterized by architecture, deconstruction, and a dark palette with dashes of color that highlight detail.

See the autumn/winter 2011 collection here.

Photos Getty Images, Used with Permission by Image.net.

Victorio & Lucchino and the Soul of Seville

The label Victorio & Lucchino embraces the spirit of Andalusia where it was born, a crossroads of Christian, Arab, and Jewish cultures.

Victorio & Lucchino was founded by José Víctor Rodríguez Caro and José Luis Medina del Corral during the 1970’s when Seville was undergoing an artistic revival, which is characterized by this fashion label.

See the 2011 autumn/winter collection here.

Photos Copyright Getty Images, Used with Permission by Image.net.

ANNTIAN Autumn/Winter 2011 “Crystal Inside”

“Crystal Inside” carries away from cold, icy winter days outside with crystal clear air and gives in the longing for coziness and comfort -for being inside.

The Interior of one’s home is in focus now—there are all these things that make you feel at home and comfortable that allows you to contemplate.

Objects you’ve come across over the years and that happened to be beloved ones. Things of no real value, just full of “meaning”, thoughts and memories of your own... Pillows, books, rugs and blankets, plants, stoles, tea & pastries...

On this basis graphic elements of the collection are inspired by ornaments, patterns of rugs, crystals, geometric arrangements to be found in “still lifes”.

Colors are earthy, brown tones, black and white, plus strong highlights like red and pale neon green, accompanied by a fresh pale blue.

Patterns are based on the approach of “involving” blankets and scarves in garments and silhouettes - patterns developed out of “wrapped” blankets.

The composition: series of wool coats, jackets and trousers…some printed jerseys, and an ensemble of knit, being important in the line.

Alongside the clothing line the collection includes pillows, blankets, rugs, printed porcelain dishes & tea sets, plus the crystal-porcelain jewelry line and the winter boot.

See the whole collection here.

Photos & text Copyright ANNTIAN.

L.G.R RAW Limited Edition

The Raw limited edition is the combination of a rough, unpolished frame with a sophisticated polarized lens, developed exclusively for L.G.R.

The visual contrast can be seen through the combination of the dark opaque frames and deep blue mirrored lenses.

Offering the latest techniques in mineral glass production, this collection makes for a unique eyewear experience.

The collection consists of 4 models, presented all together in an elegant black leather case. Each style is limited to 100 pieces.

The distinctive element of this limited edition is the “L.G.R Pola.Neophan” lenses, which were specifically developed for L.G.R.

Neophan lenses were invented in the 1940’s for fighter pilots, in order to increase the vision’s perception of color and the contrast of image (color enhancement).

This is possible through the chemical element neodymium, which is added to the fusion of glass.

It allows light transmission to be selectively filtered, therefore enhancing certain colors and contrast.

Check out the models here.

Photos & text Copyright L.G.R.

van Laack—130 Years of Tailor-Made Excellence

The van Laack label was established in 1881 by Heinrich van Laack and two partners who had a vision to produce luxury shirts.

By the 1920’s van Laack shirts had already forged the way to a reputation of “the royal shirt.”

Since that time the company has been acquire by Heinrich Hoffman in 1953 and Christian von Daniels in 2002.

Now, van Laack is sold in over 50 countries!

Have a look at more images here.

Photos Copyright van Laack.

Heutchy—A Nice Story about Shoes…and More

Heutchy is the brainchild of Wells Stelberger, who aims at designing timeless footwear for men, who desire attire-appropriate shoes for any time of the day.

Wells draws inspiration from the photos of Bruce Davidson, who in the 50’s captured the life and times of young Brooklyn boys.

Several designers that appear on Men’s Fashion by Francesco collaborate with Heutchy, such as Timo Weiland, Shipley and Halmos, and Native Son.

The name Heutchy is the last name of Wells’ maternal grandfather, whom he never met but wishes to honor through this line.

See the entire line here.

Photos spring/summer 2001 collection , Copyright Heutchy, Courtesy CJ Swanton PR.

Want to Look Sexy as an Aussie: Try Tribe!

After years of research, Tribe was launched in 2008 as an underwear label that would make men look sexy and masculine, all the while feeling soft and comfortable.

Since the underwear line resembled swimwear, Tribe launched their line of swim suits a year later.

Now, this 100% Aussie brand has launched a collection of swimwear for spring/summer 2011 that should be a major hit in the Europe!

The collection ranges from simple geometric styles to Hawaiian patterns, all in several cuts.

The swim shorts with the contrasting waistband are particularly fun for the beach, but as a competitive swimmer my favorites are the swim briefs!

Have a look at more sexy swimwear here.

Photos Copyright Tribe.

Davide Lamma for Barboni di Lusso

For autumn/winter 2011, Barboni di Lusso shoots a hoop with Italian basketball player, Davide Lamma—capitan of the team Fortitudo Bologna.

Sitting in an old train shed somewhere in the countryside of Reggio, Davide is sitting on an abbandoned train waiting to depart on a trip.

The collection consists of thick chunky wool pullovers, woolen jackets and coats with an urban flair, and torn discolored sweatshirts and t-shirts, all of which personalize the streetbumb’s look.

Barboni di Lusso—metropolitan dreamers that want the luxury to choose.

Photo Copyright Barboni di Lusso, Courtesy S2B.

Ray Vincente 2011 Autumn/Winter Concept Shoot

Designing since 1983, Ray Brown launched his menswear collection called “Ray Vincente Eclectic” in 2009.


I met Ray for the first time a year ago at Washington DC Fashion Week, and I have been following his collections ever since.


For autumn/winter 2011, Ray Vincente lives up to its name—Eclectic!

The collection is rich in plaids and throws a 1970’s twist.

See the collection here.

Photos Copyright Ray Vincente.

Selected Homme Spring/Summer 2011

The brand Selected Homme is represented by two strong lines: Selected Homme and Selected Jeans.

Selected Homme is the exclusive line grounded in the classic art of tailoring. The lines vary from a formal business look to a trendy expression.

Trend
Elegant with an edge. The classic look is combined with modern details to create a personal style. The expression is sophisticated and bold – for the man who goes for a striking take on the classic look.

Formal
Cool business. The collection is exclusive and represents the classic business expression. Elegant and masculine in a well dressed and traditional way—for the choosy man who uses the suit as a professional attitude.

Selected Jeans is the casual line of the brand. The style is laid-back and various from an understated sporty expression to a raw image.

Jeans
Raw attitude. Forget everything about looking nice. The style is relaxed and raw—masculine in the random way —for the guy who deliberately goes for the messy rock image.

Casual
Classic casual. Relaxed in a cool way. The expression exudes an understated attitude, a nice and well balanced man who knows how to look well dressed, yet relaxed.

About Selected
Selected is part of Bestseller, a family-owned clothing company founded in Denmark in 1975.

The Selected brand was launched in 1997 for the menswear market and the presence of the brand in 25 countries around the world reveals the strong foothold Selected has gained on the market.

See the collection here.

Photos & text Copyright Selected.

Kent Denim Spring/Summer 2011

For spring/summer 2011, Kent Denim has prepared a casual collection of denim shorts and pants with accompanying tops for a cool, laidback look.

Plaid shirts span a range of colors, sporting contrasting collars and cuffs and fun ways of buttoning up like Norman Rockwell, Robert Frost, and Astros.

For the more casual guy, black enzyme-wash hoodies and tanks with gold logos or basic cotton tees complete the collection.

What’s great about the jeans is that they don’t wear out fast. Choose from Japanese Kuroki denim in assorted vintage washes, raw cone white oak denim in your choice of fit: boot cut fits, relaxed fits, and slim leg fits.

View the collection here.

Photos Copyright Kent Denim.

William Brogue to celebrate Esquire’s 20th Anniversary

To celebrate Esquire’s 20th Birthday this month, my-wardrobe.com the UK’s leading online retailer of ‘everyday luxury’ designer fashion has joined forces with traditional English shoe makers Grenson to create an exclusive design of the William Brogue.

The ‘William Brogue’ already exists in the Grenson range as their classic unlined brogue. Lee Douros, my-wardrobe.com Menswear Buyer and Tim Little, Creative Director of Grenson, have taken this classic style and given it a modern reconstruction using two tone suede and contrasting eyelets in a tonal summer colour palette. Unlike a regular ‘Goodyear Welted’ shoe, the unlined brogue has no lining, making it light and easy to wear.

The shoes are made in 4 stages: clicking, closing, lasting and finishing. The first refers to cutting the leather, the second to creating the upper, the third to the moulding of the shape and the fourth to polishing; in all, taking around three weeks to manufacture a pair.

All Grenson shoes are ‘Goodyear Welted’, a process invented in 1800s England which involves the upper part of the shoe being stretched and moulded over the last – a plastic shape that simulates the foot shape – before being attached to the insole of the shoe.

The process is time consuming but the result means that the shoe will keep its shape for many years.

Grenson was founded in 1866 as William Green & Son and abbreviated its name in the 1930s.

It supplied British servicemen during WW2 and its shoes were worn by film stars such as Cary Grant, David Niven and Fred Astaire.

See a few more angles here.

Photos & text Copyright Grenson, Courtesy My Wardrobe.

Griffin Spring/Summer 2011: Core Items

Technology stands at the forefront of this collection which is best shown in the ‘Technical Bearskin’. This design originates from a style we became famed for in the mid 90’s, the Bearskin was a coat that featured side seam zips and when opened up and laid flat replicated the shape of the skin of a bear.

The development for the Technical Bearskin began over four years ago, but it is only now we have the appropriate technology to achieve the garment we wanted. Articulated to fit the body, this jacket is finished with waterproof taped zips along the side seams and underarms, which can be opened as pit zips for ventilation, or fully unzipped to open flat into the Griffin Bearskin shape.

On a technical note, this jacket is kitted out with all the essentials; including 4 front pockets with bonded waterproof zips, a double storm flap on the front with a stand collar and concealed hood, plus the sleeves and back panel are fitted with volume adjusters. This style is available in two Limited Edition colour options; all over black or Finnish Digi Camouflage, both featuring a 3 layer high tech waterproof fabric from Italian mill Limonta.

Although bonding technical man-made fabrics to each other is a technique used by many outdoorwear sports brands, what we have done is bonded a natural fiber cotton/poly mix with a synthetic 3 layer black Limonta fabric making the construction behind this piece really special.

The ‘Dartmouth jacket’ returns this season but with an entirely new look. Featured as part of the tradition meets technology range that combines traditional fabrics and heritage silhouettes, with new technologies and innovative techniques. The Dartmouth is a short jacket designed with front bellow pockets which have been bonded to give a modern take on the style’s vintage counterpart which was traditionally re-enforced with canvas, we have used a high-tec bonding technique which is a great example of the new technology applied to the making of this garment. Another example of this can be found in the design of the pit holes which are used for ventilation, instead of the tradtional eyeletting technique we have laser cut and bonded these holes, the front slant pockets have also received the same treatment, giving a sleek laser cut finish to the front of the jacket. This style is fully reversible and the pitched sleeves have been finished with adjustable reversible cuff tabs, a detail that came from an original reversible 1950’s snow smock. The style is available in two different greyscale colour options, black with white paper-like nylons from Italian mill Limonta and a black wax-like coated nylon with Grey B-Bridge coated Nylon.

The ‘Reversible Pocket Parka’ is a style that has evolved from the reversible Snow Bearskin coat from the Autumn/Winter 10 collection. The design was originally inspired by the U.S. Military Parka, a fantastic shape and Griffin Military favourite. Lengthened and finished with a true parka style fishtail hem, we have worked more volume into this A-line silhouette - even more than last season. This dramatic shaping adds a great swing to the back of the coat and the extra volume drops the shoulders into the uniquely constructed sleeves, featuring double tuck details either side of the elbow and articulated panelling to give volume to the sleeve whilst retaining an accurate fit, plus the cuffs are fully adjustable - featuring an elasticated and button-fastened, reversible adjuster. A lot of time has been spent perfecting the reversibility of this coat, ensuring either side offers a distinct look. As a result we have used the dominating palette of black and white and alternate pocket designs on either side. Working with paper like fabrics from Italian mill Limonta this style is available in luxurious white on one side and classic black on the other.

The ‘Imber’ is a semi-tailored jacket featuring hunting style pockets and two large flap pockets running from the front of the jacket around the side. The collar is styled with a military tab and all seams have been double stitched giving a clean finish on both the outside and inside of the jacket. This season we have stitched into the cotton fabric, leaving short loose threads on the surface giving the jacket a very distinct look. The distinctive plastic spray dyw effect has been applied to this garment, this spray paint technique is applied after the jacket has been manufactured so the back of the fabric and hidden areas, such as underneath the pocket flaps are left undyed. This hand applied technique not only introduces a new touch, it means every jacket is completely unique. The style is also available in plain black and white.

The ‘Technical Softshell’ jacket continues to merge the line between tradition and technology with three new fabrications including Finnish Digi Camouflage, White and Black all mixed with the technical softshell base fabric. This style offers a fitted yet flexibile fit and a clean, sleek finish as all the body panel seams are bonded together instead of stitched. The shape is ergonomically designed for plenty of movement with an off centre waterproof taped zip, featuring engineered sleeves with piped seams in camo. The softshell is fitted with a slanted laser cut chest pocket with a taped zip. The sculpted hood has piping details and features a rounded nose piece for smog protection. Manufactured in Italy to the highest quality - a true example of technology working with tradition.

Trousers & Shorts
The ‘Thai Pant’ was first re-introduced last season after it’s initial development over 10 years ago. Last season, like the first time around, the style was a sell out success for our Japanese stockists. The design is a unique cross between a snow pant and traditional Thai trouser, with a lot of room in the seat and a low slung crotch and gusset. The trouser has a banana seam detail running down the front of the leg for a greater shape and darted at the back to create a sculptured leg. A great silhouette with a lot of volume, this casual pant is available in a range of six colours overdyed on lightweight Italian Cotton fabric. The ‘Technical Thai Pant’ is the sister style and features front and back bonded, waterproof, zips adding a high tech finish to the overall look. The Technical Thai Pant is available in Finnish Digi Camouflage and Swedish Camouflage for the Spring/Summer 11 season. This pant looks fantastic teamed with our new range of sweats or the pocket parka coat.

The ‘USMC trouser’ is a style we have developed for a number of years and after a series of requests from customers and buyers we are reintroducing the pant. First developed from a 1945 boiler suit the USMC trouser is a wide leg pant with a low slung crotch. Fitted with large combat pockets and adjustable tabs at the hem these trousers offer a really comfortable fit. This season the USMC is available in all seasonal colours and two cotton fabric options. As a more commercial alternative the ‘Hanoi Pant’ is the sister style to this pant, designed with a slightly raised crotch and slimmer leg, this style is also available in a range of overdyed cottons.

The ‘Archback trouser’ is an iconic Griffin style and was originally developed from a vintage climbing trouser. With ergonomically designed legs and darted knees, the fit is slimmer this season with a low slung crotch. The archback panel is of course the pant’s most distinctive detail and a feature we can only achieve due to the flexibility of our great Italian factory. Traditionally a coat manufacturer, our factory has the ability to be more creative in the make than a traditional trouser manufacturer by using the finishes and detailing found in outerwear on our trouser range. The Archback style this season is available in the full seasonal range of colours overdyed in a great quality mid-weight cotton fabric.

The ‘Flying Pant’ is a heritage Griffin style developed from original military Para uniforms, the most distinctive styling detail being the darted knee patchs used originally to re-enforce the pant. This season Jeff wanted to rework this design as a track pant, working in a cotton instead of a sweat and adding the ribbed cuffs and a detailed, easticated waistband. The design is available in all 6 seasonal colours, the overdying affect has taken incredibly well to this fabric giving a really rich coverage.

The ’USMC Short’ offers all the great features that its long-legged brother has; combat pockets, low slung crotch and wide loose fit. This season we have developed two lengths, first the standard length finishing at the knee, this design is available in Finnish Digi Camo as well as 6 colour options in Italian cotton. The second design is the adequately named the USMC ‘big’ short which is designed in a longer leg as a three-quarter length that finishes mid-calf. This style is available in a selection of Camouflages including Wetland and Swedish as well as a range of colours from the seasonal colour palette.

Sweats & Jerseys
This season we bring you our most extensive range of sweats and jerseys yet. All produced in Italy, the range includes a selection of silk and cotton jerseys as well as 4 sweats including a ‘Technical crew sweat’ which features waterproof taped front zip pockets and diagonal front panelling. Offering a similar look, the ‘Bomb-Her Jacket’, a zip through track design features laser cut pockets finished with a black bonded trim and available in a selection of contrasting B & W and khaki colour combinations. The Jersey Parka is a new piece for the season made from a double jersey. Along with the the large oversized sleeves and adjustable hem, this high quality Italian cotton is super soft, making it a really easy piece to just throw on. The ‘Hooded Button Sweat’ returns this season, available in the same supersoft double jersey as the parka. Popular details such as the laser cut pocket and contrasting black cotton lining in the hood remain, however the hooded design has been refreshed for a superior fit.

Shirts
We have two new shirt designs for the Spring/Summer season. The first is the cowboy shirt which is a modern take on the traditional country shirt, featuring signature Griffin cotnrast paneling and laser cut pockets. The second design is the bellow shirt, this distinctive design features two gathered bellow pockets on the chest. The shirt is darted offering slim fit and features a traditional button fastening with a slim collar. The design is available in four fabric options including two silks and two cottons in a range of colours.

Manufacturing
Our passion for quality manufaturing keeps growing. For the past 17 years we have been manufacturing our collections in some of Italy’s finest factories, which has enabled us to work very closely with our manufacturer, investing time into innovation and experimentation of emerging garment technologies to fulfil their creative potential. We recognise the future for Griffin lies in Technology and how it can be applied or shaped in the context of clothing. Griffin still firmly supports Italian manufacturing because of the high quality and skills of the factories and fabric mills. Based in the valleys of the Alps, the factory and it’s employees carry a passion that is very Italian - they are great at what they do, and proud of the garments they produce. As well as the Griffin brand the factory also manufactures many luxury brands including Dries Van Notten, Missoni, Dior and Armani.

We still try to work as close to home as possible, maximising on the skills available in the UK to support our local industry. Self sufficiency is an important part of the Griffin family values which Jeff would eventually like to expand out through the collection by rearing our own sheep and eventually produce our own wool. Although price is important our ethical morals and beliefs come first, which is why we are asking our customers to invest in quality clothing.

See more core items here.

Photos & text Copyright Griffin.

Griffin Spring/Summer 11 Collection: Inspiration & Colour range

The spring/summer 11 collection looks back to 1985 and the Katherine Hamnett era of baggy, oversized silhouettes and plenty of military detailing as a major source of inspiration for this season’s collection. Whilst we continue our delve into the Griffin archive to reference our classic, heritage garments like the Dartmouth and Imber jackets, we have experiemented with new technologies and dyeing techniques to create fresh and innovative detailing. The mixing of bold and oversized features, laser cut welts and bonded faux leather seams has resulted in a performance meets fashion hybrid.

The colour palette is a mix of high contrast in black and white alongside a tonal DPM range of military green and sand, complimented with an electric blue as a highlight. Desert Finnish DPM returns as the dominant camouflage with Swedish camouflage featured in a couple of pant and short styles as well. Working closely with our Italian dye factory we have created a spray paint effect across a number of styles to give a worn, plastic look to the natural fabrics. The sprayed dye colours only the outer shell, leaving areas such as undersides of pocket flaps and cuffs undyed. The effect subtly draws together the two contrasting base fabrics which include a mix of rich cottons and luxurious silks through to 3 layer technical waterproofs.

Running alongside the dramatic sihouettes of spring/summer 11 is our integration of locally sourced high-quality materials and new technology, making this collection more functional and relevent to today’s lifestyle than ever before whilst aspring towards a sustainable future.

Photos & text Copyright Griffin.

Raoul: Behind the Scenes

Since its inception in 2002, the homegrown brand of F J Benjamin has grown from strength to strength. Created by husband and wife team Douglas and Odile Benjamin, it began as a men’s shirt label and in response to changing customer needs, evolved into a complete ready to wear collection for men and women in 2008, including accessories and timepieces.

With 22 standalone boutiques and shop-in-shop concepts to-date in prime retail locations in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and most recently, Australia, RAOUL has made a significant impact on the fashion scene in Asia with its mandate to create affordable luxury products without compromising on stylish design and good quality for today’s discerning customer.

Based on its success in Asia, RAOUL eyed plans to expand into the international market by establishing a showroom in fashion capital New York in late 2009. RAOUL made its international debut at the New York and Paris Fall/Winter 2010 Fashion Week, and introduced a knitwear capsule by Tom Scott for RAOUL, as part of a unique rotating collaborative project, where a guest creator is selected to design a category that they specialize in.

About F.J. Benjamin
With a rich heritage dating back to 1959, Singapore-listed F J BENJAMIN HOLDINGS LTD (FJBEN) is an industry leader in brand development and management, and in developing retail and distribution networks for international luxury and lifestyle brands across Asia.

Founded by Frank Benjamin in 1959, the Group has over 50 years of brand building experience in the region, and has established a network of offices in 8 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and the United States of America. F J Benjamin represents over 20 iconic brands, operates over 170 retail stores/shop-in-shops, employs over 2,000 employees and has four core businesses: Luxury and Lifestyle Fashion Retailing and Distribution, Creative and Licensing, Timepiece Distribution and Investments in Lifestyle Concepts.

Conceptualised in 2002, RAOUL was created by the Group to meet the needs and demands of the urbane working professional, offering accessible luxury at affordable prices. Starting out first as a men’s shirt brand, RAOUL has today evolved to offer a complete collection of Men’s and Ladies’ Ready-to-Wear and Accessories through over 20 points of sale in Southeast Asia and Australia. It also distributes through its office in New York to retailers like Harrods in London.

Photos & text Copyright Raoul.

Raoul Spring/Summer 2011

Michelangelo Antonioni’s “The Passenger” (1975)

“Antonioni’s most beautiful cinematic canvas and certainly one of the most stunning visual voyages ever filmed.”

– Paul D. Zimmerman, Newsweek Magazine

For spring/summer 2011, RAOUL continues its cinematic odyssey by drawing inspiration from another great movie classic, Michelangelo Antonioni’s “The Passenger,” featuring the sexy, confident, rugged Jack Nicholson and the enigmatic, willowy Maria Schneider.

The movie sets the scene for the collection, reflecting the sophisticated, confident and languid style of an independent and chic traveler set against the backdrop of exotic locations reminiscent of Northern Africa and the South of France.

There is a hint of a ‘70s vintage, a languorous mood that evokes a feeling of a suspension of time, of long summer days and the romance of travel, translated into chic but practical, almost utilitarian and carefree weekend styles that one can travel, work and play in.

The RAOUL man is rugged, suave and confident in a range of modern, fitted styles suitable for the stylish wanderer who indulges in carefree expeditions, yachting or overland trips to exotic sunny locales. The collection is masculine with a light and refreshing colour palette, a touch of unexpected details like dual-color slim plackets, and an emphasis on subtlety and quality.

Fresh additions this season include safari style drawstring jackets, extra slim-fit twill-stretch pants, lightweight reversible seersucker jackets, liberty print shirts, contemporary fit linen pants, knit cotton casual polo tee worn with low rise slim-leg shorts, motorcycle denim jackets with utility pockets, denim jeans in both classic and skinny fit, pants made with slightly worn out yet crisp canvas fabric, black long-sleeved shirt with white tipping on collar and cuffs paired with navy slim-cut shorts.

A new emphasis was made to offer quality, well-cut suits in styles and colours for a man with a more discerning tastes—a light slim fitting pink suit worn with a light coloured shirt; a caramel suit worn with a cream shirt with brown placket and slim brown belt; pastel coloured linen jackets with leather wrapped buttons and patch pockets; summer-weight suits in 100% wool.

See the entire collection here.

Photos & text Copyright Raoul.

Showing ‘True Grit’ for Spring/Summer 2011 is Whillas and Gunn

Showcasing their slim fitting bank robbing silhouettes for spring/summer 2011 are Australia’s Whillas and Gunn.

Advocating the look of ‘the outlaw’ in the wake of True Grit and the eminent style and performance of Jeff Bridges, never has Whillas and Gunn been so on point to provide the wardrobe for the man’s man .

See more images here.

Photos & text Copyright Whillas and Gunn, Courtesy Sane Communications.